Symptom Descriptors in Individuals Living With Undiagnosed Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Most individuals with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) experience symptoms other than claudication and live with undiagnosed PAD yet no tools exist to detect atypical PAD symptoms. The purpose of this study was to identify discriminating PAD symptom descriptors from a community-based sample of patients with no current diagnosis of PAD. Methods: Symptoms descriptors were obtained in a sample of 22 participants with persistent lower extremity symptoms pre/post exercise. An ankle brachial index with exercise was used to classify participants as “PAD” or “No PAD.” Results: Thirteen (59%) participants had a positive ankle brachial index (<0.9, ≥20% drop postexercise, or 30 mmHg drop postexercise). Symptoms do not disappear while walking, trouble keeping up with friends/family, positive response to pain or discomfort while sitting, and pain outside of the calves and thighs were associated with a positive ankle brachial index. Conclusion: Atypical symptoms were common among study participants. Symptoms while sitting and symptoms outside of the calf and thigh were negatively associated with a positive ankle brachial index. More precise descriptions of symptom characteristics are needed to improve PAD symptom recognition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)773-781
Number of pages9
JournalWestern journal of nursing research
Volume46
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

Keywords

  • early diagnosis
  • peripheral artery disease
  • signs and symptoms
  • symptom assessment

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article

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